The Discovery Garden

Polk County Master Gardeners

Our Mission

The mission of the Master Gardener Program is to provide current, research-based, home horticulture information and education to the citizens of Iowa through ISU Extension programs and projects. Through their participation in educational activities, Master Gardeners also increase their own personal knowledge in horticulture.

Discovery Garden Co-Chairs

Dean Brand

Jean Roe

Patrick Schmitt

Cheree Tilton

Next Upcoming Event

Wednesday Work Nights

Our Wednesday work nights have resumed following the fair to keep the garden in tip-top shape for the public into the Fall. August 30th will be our final education talk following our work night at 6:00. See you in the gardens!

Location

Home

The Master Gardener Discovery Garden is free and open daily to the public.

Pathway to our Future

The Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fairgrounds is excited to announce that the path renovation project has been completed and we now have a beautiful permeable paved path through the gardens!! A HUGE thank you to all of the Polk County Master Gardeners that teamed up to secure the funding for this project, it was a very long and trying process but the success was well worth it. Also, our heart-felt gratitude to all of the contributors that made this possible. We had outstanding feedback from the public during the 2016 Iowa State Fair. For more information about the path click here.

The old brick chip path

The new paved path

Iowa Public Television's Outdoor Living created a fantastic segment about the Discovery Garden, the Enabling Garden, and the Demonstration Garden. What a great feature about why Polk County Master Gardeners do what they do!

As featured in the August 2013 issue of Midwest Living Magazine as Blue Ribbon Garden!!

Please plan on visiting the Garden anytime during the growing season to view the inspiring Garden designs and exciting new annuals, perennials, grasses, native plants, hardy roses, dwarf conifers and bushes. Remember, gardens are planted to “peak” during the Iowa State Fair, at which time all garden art and plant labels will be in place and Master Gardeners will be available from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm to answer your gardening questions.